Worker Electrocuted on Chemical Tanker Off Galveston, Texas
A 24-year-old chemical engineer and graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA) was killed in an electrocution accident, in January, while working aboard a chemical tanker off Galveston, Texas.
There are no specifics about the accident, but it appears that the 24-year-old third assistant engineer Christopher Erickson was holding a wire when a circuit breaker was tested. Erickson was working on board the Sea River Wilmington, a tanker owned by a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil. The tanker was engaged in transporting cargo between ports along the East coast. At the time of the accident the vessel was anchored 12 nautical miles off the coast of Galveston, Texas. As soon as the accident took place, the Coast Guard was notified and Erickson was transferred to a hospital in Houston, however, he died soon after due to his injuries. Students and staff at the MMA have expressed their sadness over Erickson's death, who was considered one of the brightest young cadets to graduate from the academy. He graduated cum laude from his engineering class and was a brilliant athlete.
The oil industry has the highest fatality rate of workers in American industry work. The range of challenges that an employee can face are enormous. While conditions in the industry are laced with risk, many of these risks can be eliminated if employers follow all procedures to make the maritime environment as safe for employees as possible. There are no details on how the circuit breaker came to be tested while Erickson was holding the wire, but if investigations show that there was negligence somewhere along the line, it would not be the first time a maritime employee suffered the consequences. Because of his job as a Jones Act seaman, Erickson's family may be entitled to compensation benefits that are included under the Jones Act.
Why You Should Consult a Maritime Injury Attorney
Employers generally prefer to pay as few maritime benefits as possible. The family of a worker who dies in an accident on navigable waters may file a maritime wrongful death claim that covers a range of benefits payable to the family. The family may be urged to close the case with the benefits package offered by the company without thinking about other, less obvious expenses they may have to face down the road. This is why it is necessary to consult with a maritime attorney before agreeing to any compensation package offered by the company.
If you've lost a loved one in a maritime accident you should contact a maritime attorney at Arnold & Itkin LLP for a free consultation.
